A different kind of connector company

ODU-UK Ltd are exhibiting at the Engineering Design Show 2019 and invite you to visit them on stand K8 to see some of the many examples of ODU connector expertise.

Although now supplying OEM's in most market sectors, ODU were originally best known in the UK for their miniature military push-pull connectors. Notably, since 2002, ODU have supplied more than 100,000 helmet connectors for use on the UK Bowman military communications programme, without a single reported in-use connector failure.

The ODU-AMC [Advanced Military Connector] series was originally developed to meet the ever-demanding needs of the many international Future Soldier programmes, intended to equip the average ground-based combat soldier with an integrated set of high-technology equipment, linked to an array of battlefield information resources.

Now this range of rugged connectors has recently been expanded to offer high performance data transmission, high band-width, high reliability and easy handling in harsh environments.

Already used extensively in soldier communications systems that require both significant weight and space reduction, ODU-AMC® high speed connectors have been further developed to offer high performance data transmission - in sizes that are typically one-third smaller than and lighter than using traditional MIL housings with commercial inserts.

The range includes numerous high-density signal configurations, matching all data protocols with transfer rates up to 14.4Gb/s and also versions for combined signal & power up to 15A - all in a very compact package.

Whilst ODU undoubtedly established it’s pedigree in the military market, it has not been slow to transfer technology and lessons-learned and now supplies connector solutions to many other markets, such as medical equipment, instrumentation, factory automation & robotics etc.

In addition to their push-pull connectors, a range of modular, rectangular industrial connectors, the ODU-MAC® is available in several formats, incorporating signal, data, coax, power, fibre-optic & fluidic contacts, as standard connectors or as complex custom sub-assemblies.

ODU have used their experience to develop into a true ‘problem-solving’ connector manufacturer, working closely with their OEM customers to develop both connectors and packaging, so as to provide cost-effective solutions to the problems of modern-day electronics.

As suppliers, given the complete picture, we can better understand our role in meeting your technology requirements, both now and in the future.

But, better than that, given the opportunity, we can usually come up with proposals that will add immediate value to both businesses.

The shared objective being more supply-chain responsibility and profit for us, with reduced overall costs and more profit for yourselves – that’s a true partnership.

So how does this work? Let’s look at a couple of examples.

First case – a medical equipment manufacturer needed a connector, in fairly large quantities, that was sealed and had ‘snatch’ capability - of course, it also needed to be both smaller and more economical than anything else that they had come across!

They were originally looking at standard push-pull medical connectors, such as the ODU MEDI-SNAP®, which allows for various insulators and has 2 to14 contacts.

But even this very small push-pull medical connector was seen as too large and too expensive – it quickly became clear that the answer was to develop a customized connector for their application.

Second case – a major test equipment manufacturer had encountered technical and quality problems whilst trying to take substantial costs out of a new design, which needed bulk-head connectors to handle mixed-signals.

The solution was for us to provide two sub-assemblies for the equipment, each incorporating a custom insert for a standard push-pull connector.

This insert has two central coax contacts, with flying leads, to handle high-frequency signals and a further 16 signal contacts mounted onto a small PCB, with a section of flex-foil ending in an SMT connector to the main PCB.

In both of these examples, it was the experience and expertise of ODU design engineers which produced a cost-effective solution for the customer.

However, ideas such as these can only come about when we work together as equal partners. Suppliers such as ourselves are experts in what we do, as such we are a resource that should be more fully utilised in these lean times – so come and talk to us at EDS.